XM Satellite Radio Consumer Reviews - Page 3

Please read if you are about to cancel your XM Satellite Radio subscription. I don't know you, but I can tell you what will happen next. You will log into your online account to cancel the service, and find out that you MUST call an XM Radio representative to cancel a subscription. You will call the 800 number, and give your name, address, and account number to the first customer service representative, who will put you on hold for twenty minutes.

The second customer service representative will ask you for the same info you already provided, and ask you WHY you are canceling. You will answer, and be put on hold for another 30 minutes. The next customer service representative will ask you for the same info you already provided, and then ask why you are canceling, and then ask if there is something they can do to keep your business. When you answer no, you wish to cancel, you will be put on hold for another twenty minutes. At this time, the phone will disconnect.You will then repeat steps 2 through 4, get disconnected again, throw your arms up in the air in disgust and call it a day.

One month later, your credit card will be billed again, and you will repeat steps 2 through 4 again. This time you will be smarter (or so you think) that the representative, and you will tell the first one who answers that you are not going to wait, that you want to cancel your subscription immediately. You will be put on hold for another twenty minutes. When the next person answers, they will try to come up with a payment plan that will meet your needs. You will decline and demand a cancellation. They will tell you they are cancelling your account and that you will receive a cancellation confirmation email.

The confirmation email never arrives. One month later, you will be billed again. You make one final telephone call to XM Radio and repeat all steps above. Angry, you resort to ranting on a message board in hopes that somebody will be able to wave a magic wand and make the whole mess go away. When the XM fairy does not show up with the magic wand, you will be forced to cancel the credit card associated with the XM Radio account. Of course, this is the one credit card you have the most credit history with, and your credit score goes down the drain.

I wish this were a joke. I have been a subscriber for 5 years now. I have 3 radios on my account. All I wanted to do was to remove one of the 3 radios. I now live outside the US so I thought I could email XM to remove the one radio. Nope, I have to call a US toll free number. So I called in January when I was in the US to have the radio removed. After a 20 minute call, I thought it was taken care of. Here we are a month later, I continue to email, to plead really to remove 1 of my 3 radios from my account. I continue each time to get the same form letter that I need to call XM on the toll free US number during their business hours.

After 5 emails, I have decided that I'm going to completely close my account. There is seriously no one that even knows how to read as part of this customer service. So here I am now in March still living outside the US and I need to find a way to completely terminate my account this with company. I'd like to say that this is the first time I've had such troubles.

The opposite is true, billing is not accurate. It's not possible to get a good view into the breakdown of the billing and it seems like every time I call, I'm on hold and get someone who does not fulfill the request that I've made. Without a doubt, this is the worst customer service I've seen in my life. On the basis of the customer service alone, I would advise any and all of my friend, family, and frankly anyone who can read to stay away from XM.

After seeing the other reviews I am less surprised at the response I got from an XM associate. I pre-paid a 3 year subscription for my car that ended 6/6/09. I never listen to XM so I did not renew when my renewal came up. I got many automated calls to call them to avoid service interruption. Never a call to say it was auto renewal and must be canceled. 7/29/09 I got recorded message from CNA collections and called to find they sent me to a collection agency and charged me an additional 30% collection fee. Yes, for one month 6/7-7/7 they say I owe them $46.33.

The collection agency gave me the number to call XM. The associate said this is what I owe and that was that. Spoke to the supervisor, Vaughn **, and he said it is an auto renewal and this is what I owe with the collection fees. How is this close to being legal??? One month service (12.95) and I owe $46.33. Even if it were legal to auto subscribe me how did they come up with such a number???

I offered to clear the account and pay for the one month at 12.95 since it was actually on, even though I did not renew. He repeated that $46.33 is what I owe. I requested to speak to his supervisor and he said he is the floor manager and that is as high as there is. Advised me to send an email.

I will take some of the advice on this site and file with the BBB and pursue corporate further. I too had intended to renew when my husband got his new vehicle so we would be on one account. No way am I getting XM after this. I will tell everyone I know to STAY AWAY FROM XM.

In January of this year, I obtained XM radio on a new vehicle and a subsequently ordered one for an older vehicle. Although the radio was fine and the stations were good, the service by XM was a total rip off. For 4 months I heard nothing from them and received no bills. Suddenly, I received two bills for over $400 with no explanation for this. Since I was told that the service was $9.99 per month, you can imagine my concern with this charge. When I contacted them, they were very vague about what the charge was about and after about an hour on the phone with several people, they corrected the bill and extended the service; supposedly at the $9.99 fee.

Today I contacted them again as I had been directed to do. I was prepared to continue my service at the $9.99 rate. I was informed that I had a bill balance of over $46 and that they were adding an extra $1.98 per month charge for some copyright fee. I informed them that I had not received any bills nor had I received any notification that there would be an increase in the monthly rate. As this was the second time that this company attempted to raise their rates in direct violation of our original agreement, I asked to speak to a manager and was told that one was not available.

Because of their horrible service and their underhanded tactics related to pricing, I instructed them to cancel the service and I would return the radio they had sent me. I was informed that there would be a $25 early termination fee and the radio could not be returned. I informed them that since they did not uphold their end of the original agreement and raised the prices quoted without notice, I was not paying any fees. I was told that a manager would contact me about this. At this time, I have not been contacted - which seems to be their preferred method of doing business.

I was satisfied with the product, but the companies policies are obviously designed to rip off the customer. At one time I would have been an avid customer and advocate of their service. But now I would not recommend them to anyone. In fact, I intend on warning everyone I know to stay away from this company unless they wish to be ripped off by their poor customer service, increasing prices, and willingness to modify their agreements without proper notice.

XM's customer service is fine if you're subscribing. If you're cancelling you get hooked up in India with this scripted methodology for making it as inconvenient as possible for you to do so. First, you'll get transferred to "another department" and it's here that they might disconnect you --accidentally? Not really. You would think so but not after I read several accounts of this online.

The next thing they'll do after you eventually get through to this other dept. is that they'll tell you that their "system is down" and they can't access your account. BS --I was ON my account online as I spoke with them. It's just that XM doesn't have an option to cancel your service online. They said the service was going to be back up in two hours and to call back at that time. They couldn't take my order to cancel nor could they call *me* back when the system was back online.

Well, I thought this was very suspicious so I did a quick search online. Guess what? MANY accounts of people that got the same runaround. Exact same things listed --disconnection the moment you say "cancel" and then the "system down" bs. That got me furious. I called them back immediately as I knew their system wasn't down at that point, and I told them as much, and, oh, a miracle --their system was working again. What a surprise.

I was so upset as this point that I cancelled all 3 of my XM radios instead of just the one I was calling about. Of course they run you through a hard sell script to try to get you to keep subscribing. They list a nothing "promotion" first like a 50% off for one month and then they build it up to 3 months free. I told them to make it a year for how they made me feel. Anyway, they lost someone that probably would have been a lifetime subscriber. I loved their product. But support this sleazy methodology? No way.

I'll bet they mistakenly charge my credit card next month and make me jump through hoops trying to get them to reimburse me just as many others are saying is the next thing they experienced after cancellation. I've submitted a convenient complaint form on the BBB website and I suggest anyone else do the same that has experienced this shameful scam.

I've been an XM subscriber for 5 years with radios in two cars plus an XM Weather receiver in the cockpit of an airplane that our company operates. There have been few actual "service" problems over that time, but the billing and associated customer support is an absolute nightmare. You can't change or cancel your recurring billing online once it is instituted -- likely by design because they want to try to talk you out of doing it. However, when I called to have a recurring auto-payment stopped (due to the pending increase in rates and elimination of certain services) I was first told that I could only do that in the month my subscription renews.

Since I had waited forever on hold to get through to someone, I demanded to get it handled NOW... I was then told I'd have to be transferred to another department that could handle that task. So they transferred me and I remained on hold for 36 minutes before their phone line abruptly disconnected me. I e-mailed them about this problem and got back a B. S. response about how they pride themselves in providing "world class customer service" but aside from that they did nothing to solve my actual problem.

I e-mailed back and forth several times and despite demands to do so, I could NOT get anyone from XM to call me. They instead gave me another toll free number (allegedly for payment cancellations) which got answered by a recorded voice but then abruptly disconnected me before ever getting to a human being. I absolutely cannot reach anyone to take my cancellation order!!! As a result, I am simply going to have to resort to having American Express deny all charges made by XM and thereby constructively cancel all their services.

I received a promotional e-mail from General Motors advising me that I was eligible for a special 3 month trial of my XM Satellite Radio at a special rate of $4.99/month for "XM Everything" service for 3 months. The offer also stated that there would be no "reactivation fees". The e-mail provided a link to the XM site where I could sign up on-line. The link worked but the site did not accept my Radio ID code as valid. So I called 800 XM RADIO to order the service. The representative kept trying to get to me sign up for a one-year plan. I told him that I just wanted the trial program.

Finally he agreed, and said that I would be billed the $4.99 per month to my credit card. He told me that the service would begin when I turned on my XM Radio and went through the "updating" process, something I tried to do every day for a week. The service never activated. Then I received a credit card charge for $35.03 from XM Radio! I called and told them that the service did not work and that I did not authorize a charge for $35.03 - only the $4.99. I further stated that I wanted to cancel the never delivered service and get a refund for the incorrect charge of $35.03.

Several days later, I received a voice mail message from the "Escalation Dept." at XM Radio advising me that they were issuing a refund to my Credit Card for $12.03. When I called to request the full refund, I was informed that the "Billing Dept." has determined that all I was entitled to was $12.03. They said that this was because I was never signed up for the $4.99 rate, I was signed up for $6.99 rate and there was an activation charge of $14.95 (non-refundable).

I told them that I was never informed of such an "activation" charge and that I did not authorize the charge, nor a monthly charge of $6.99. I was told that there was nothing that could be done, the "Billing Dept." would not authorize any further refund. I asked for a supervisor and was put on hold for over 45 minutes. I finally spoke to a supervisor (Tracey **) who told me that she would investigate the issue and call me back within 30 minutes. I am not holding my breath.

The bottom line: Unless you are truly committed to a long term relationship with XM - stay away and do not accept their "Trial Programs" which mimic the very worst of bait & switch tactics and slam billing practices of other unscrupulous sales outfits.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON -- I strongly advise against using XM Satellite Radio's online store. I ordered a Pioneer Inno portable Mp3/satellite radio receiver from XM back on Wednesday May 17th for my vacation. I was leaving on the following Tuesday. I decided to spend the extra $40 for overnight shipping to be sure I got it on time.

When I realized it wasn't coming in time and hadn't heard anything from XM Customer Service, I emailed OrderInfo@xmradio.com to cancel. It bounced back. I called to cancel the order. I was told it was too later but they would get back to me within a couple days. They didn't. I called again later that week (while I was on vacation, since $400 is a lot of money for me) and learned it was back ordered (news to me!) but they would "try to cancel it" by submitting a request to their corporate offices.

It finally arrived June 2nd (the day after I got back from vacation). I emailed again (OrderInfo@xmradio.com) and it bounced back, again. I called again, and was told to refuse delivery and that I'd receive a full refund at the most within 2 weeks. I had to argue why I deserved a refund on the shipping.

Yesterday was 2 weeks from the day they received the package back (based on the FedEx delivery confirmation) and I called, again (3rd or 4th time). They said they had to submit another request to their corporate offices and would get back to me within a couple days. I am wondering if they have corporate offices at this point.

I could rant and rave all day about this, but I'm hoping the above story should summarize my experience. I sincerely hope it deters at least a handful of people from doing business with XM Satellite Radio who has consistently been a nightmare to deal with. And I really hope I get my refund.

VENTURA, CALIFORNIA -- I really have to comment about the poor customer service I received over the last few days. I have been a loyal XM subscriber for several years and it finally came time for me to replace my original SkyFi with an updated model. I also had an XM direct I rigged to run on my PC that I had not really been using for about 9 months and wanted to take them off of my account. I tried to call 2 days ago. I was put on hold for 45 minutes, only to be redirected to a line so static filled, I could not make out the voice of the person on the other side and we had to disconnect.

Today I am trying again. Over a total of 69 minutes and 20 seconds I was on Hold. Told by the service rep 58 minutes later that he could not terminate service. Transferred to another service rep who took my radio information, poorly read a script on why I should continue to get XM radio on my replaced and unused systems (I had to tell her "Let me read from my script - I - WANT - MY TWO - RADIOS - DISCONNECTED)". She put me on hold again for the final 8 minutes where I was then disconnected.

So here I am again, listening to horrid french pop music that you use for hold music (I am convinced you use this torture to get people to hang up) along with the occasional interruption regarding heavy volume of new subscribers (Hmmmm, didn't your CEO just announce shortfall in new users?).

I think this is a cheesy excuse to cover up that you have woefully understaffed your human customer service reps and will do everything possible to constantly charge customers for service they do not want. I would have happily visited your website to disconnect service on these 2 radios, but I can't do that - I HAVE to sit through this voice mail, hold, automated system to get you to stop charging for these 2 systems.

So I will start by submitting this letter to your customer Listener Care system and continue to post it to every internet complaint site I can until I get off the hold music (I am now at 14 minutes + on this second call) and get ahold of someone competent to take care of something that should have been simple to take care of. I wonder how Sirius would have handled this problem?

I am an veteran that suffers from depression and I figured that it might help to get away to Florida. Prior to leaving for Florida to visit my daughters, I received a letter from XM RADIO dated 12/03/05 that they were billing my AMEX Card $271.95 for the next 2 years. I called them right away and I explained that my auto lease was up in 9 months and I would like to switch to the monthly plan and that they shouldn't bill my credit card for 2 years in advance. I was told that it would be taken care of.

While in Florida I checked my credit card 2 weeks later and the charge was still on so I called XM again. I explained everything again to this person. I was given a reference number. I checked again 2 weeks later and I was shocked to find the charge still on my AMEX CARD. I called XM again and after explaining my situation she hung up on me. I called back and was told that it would be taken care of. I received another reference number. The next day it was still on my card and I was getting depressed that a company this size should pull something like this.

I have been very patient with the XM Personnel but now I realize that I must get out of this Twilight Zone loop with the XM Personnel and I must initiate some kind of damage control. I call my card company and I told them about it.

As a start I have filed a detailed complaint with the Attorney General Office in Washington, D.C. My next step is to place the facts on some of the on line complaint form. In a way I feel like I am in combat again. I cannot understand how companies can operate this way. After being a good long term customer with XR RADIO and actually promoting their product, why should I be treated like this? The credit was applied back to my card about 6 weeks after my first call about this.

There should be a law that states that a company cannot on their own enter a multi-year renewal charge for their product and collect for years in advance without first obtaining the permission and a signature from the owner of that card. You can believe me that I will have letters going out to the appropriate government agency on this matter. After send 2 faxes to their president they did not even reply. Thanks for reading. Have a great week.